The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

Rating:
Summary: They don't make 'em like this anymore
Review: I was surprised by how fast-moving this was, for a 70s film. Smart dialogue. Amazon's review says the movie is dated because it's full of ethnic stereotypes, but really the movie shows characters in a diverse city trying to come to grips with increasing interaction with each other, in the days before political correctness. The best line is when Mathau's character meets the black chief inspector for the first time and says, "Oh, I thought you'd be ... a little smaller." As a regular rider of the subway line that was hijacked in the movie, I found it particularly gripping, but it has enough suspense and action to hold anyone's interest. Great slice of life of the 1970s. The deputy mayor is a gem.

Rating:
Summary: 70's action without being dated
Review: "The Taking of Pelham 123" is 70's action without being stuck in that decade. The film's use of the seamy streets and subways of New York, and of great NY characters, is perfect. Mathau as Lt. Garber is cool, but it is Robert Shaw as the head terrorist who steals the show. Interestingly, the audience never finds out his reasons for what he is doing, which adds to the mystery. His character is a precursor to such hijacker villains as Dennis Hopper in "Speed" and Gary Sinise in "Ransom." This film is great fun and provides a fresh look at the madman vs. cop theme from a time before Hollywood went effects-happy.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best NY movies ever made....
Review: It has the feel , and action of an average day in NYC, gone a little out of control.....True grit, suspense, and realistic human connections. One of Walter Matthau better roles. Violence without gore..No sex...and pretty realistic..Despite the fact that it is a hijacked subway car....Recommeded for anyone's video Library.

Rating:
Summary: Intense!
Review: One of the best action films ever made. This is because situations and characters are very real, not like shameful action cliches like The Rock. This movie will have you in suspense from beginning to end, plus it has a great surprise ending. (hope you don't see it coming, I know I didn't!)

Rating:
Summary: They don't make 'em any better than this!!
Review: Highly entertaining, crime thriller of a well planned highjacking of a subway train (of all things!). Excellent performances all around, nail biting tension, cynical humor, it's great! Part when the Mayor arrives on the scene is hilarious. Watch this film!

Rating:
Summary: An Actual Action Movie with a Great Plot
Review: Forget about all those action movies with big machismo type actors. This action movie stars two unlikely actors to be in an action movie, Walter Mathau, and Robert Shaw of Jaws fame. A very fast paced action-drama movie about a hi-jacked New York city train that Shaw and cronies take over and hold hostages for a ransom. It is Mathau's mission to get the hostages to safety and bring the band of criminals to justice. The ending of the movie will have you biting away at your nails. If you like Reservoir Dogs I really recommend this. END

Rating:
Summary: They Don't Make Them Like This Anymore
Review: The early to mid seventies is known for some great films set in New York, "THE FRENCH CONNECTION" springs to mind and for me this feature which is overlooked these days, I'm suprised Hollywood hasn't ripped it of ("SUBJACKED" or "UNDER STEET BLUES" starring....). The cast makes this film worthwhile, the story is very shaky. Basically a group of hijackers storm a subway train and take one carridge including its occupents. Unless one million dollars is paid in one hour a passenger will be shot every minute after the deadline. A simlpe storline but effective. Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw plus a sometimes hilarious script ("Matthau-'Have they moved';Police chief-'Has who moved';Matthau-'The train! How many hijacked trains do we have down here')result in a exciting film. The DVD comes with no extras and has mono sound, however there isn't much more to see or say with regards to this film except the feature itself.

Rating:
Summary: The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 is #1 with me!
Review: Of all the gritty, realistic police dramas of the 1970's, "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3" stands out as the best of a very good lot. Released during the low-point year of NYC history in 1974, "Pelham" is argueably the most real-life look at New York and New Yorkers one can get without actually visiting the big town. The plot concerns the hijacking of an IRT subway train by a gang of four men, led by the coolheaded Robert Shaw (Jaws, Black Sunday). The late Walter Matthau shines as Lt. Zach Garber of the NY Transit Police who, over a two-way radio, has to deal with the terrorists unbelievable demands. The writing in this movie crackles with smart-mouthed NY urgency. The acting, photography, editing, and music MUST have all been created by native NYers. Even the 18 passengers who are taken hostage in the lead car of the #6 train look like they stepped off the street and into the IRT without missing a beat. You wanna hijack me just before rush hour? Go ahead, but I'm not ganna make it easy for you, punk! Many other NY movies (Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, French Connection) have overshadowed this gem, but do yourself a favor and buy it, especially in the DVD version, which gives the viewer a panorama of a NYC that has faded into history.

Rating:
Summary: great 70's flick...
Review: In the same way that "The Naked City" portrays New York City of the forties, "Pelham" does justice to the 70's. This is a great movie! Did anyone notice that the opening theme music was also used in the more recent Mel Gibson movie, "Payback"?

Rating:
Summary: Come in Pelham 123
Review: I was so pleased to see this released on DVD. copies are inexpensive and should be purchased without prejudice. This is an absolute classic, certainly the type of film that would never be made today. a subway highjacking with all of the classic ethinc seterotypes on board. Walter Matthau is in charge of the case at New York transit headquarters. after putting his foot in his mouth a couple of times, Matthau's leadership come through in one of the best ending to a movie ever. Fantastic